Overview
- City police data show 49 homicides from January through June 2026, down from 70 in the same period in 2025, a 30 percent decline.
- Milwaukee reported a 7 percent fall in Part 1 crimes and a 28 percent drop in nonfatal shootings for the same midyear period.
- City leaders said improved police work plus prevention efforts helped, and the Department of Community Wellness and Safety says it mediated 62 conflicts in the second quarter to stop violence before it escalated.
- Neighborhoods have seen uneven results with Sherman Park recording a sharp rise in shootings this year and residents asking for more visible patrols during peak hours.
- National data show murders declining in early 2026, but officials warn gains in Milwaukee are fragile and require sustained enforcement, investment and community engagement to hold.